Since the earliest days on Pern, Smithcrafters have made use of water-driven wheels to run heavy machinery. Numerous inventions and rediscoveries have shaped the Smithcraft during the Ninth Pass under Craftmaster Fandarel. Even before the discovery of AIVAS, the Smithcraft had re-created far-seers or distance-viewers (telescopes) and small-seers (microscopes), invented the distance-writer by combining litmus paper oscillographs with telegraphy, copied the Oldtimers' flamethrowers, and done chemical research resulting in the use of acid batteries as power source for the distance-writer and agenothree (nitric acid = HNO3) to fight Thread burrows.

Back to Top

Metalsmiths:

Although all metalsmiths work with metal, there are many different subspecialties in this field. Aside from tools, machinery, household items and jewelry, the metalsmiths also provide the metal sheets that are used as a Thread-proof cover on roofs, wagons and ships and build the flamethrowers used in the battle against Thread.

The blacksmiths who work with iron (the so-called "black metal") form the backbone of the craft. They are the part of the craft that concentrates on making and repairing tools and doing practical metalwork. Some specialize on cast iron works while others specialize on wrought iron or on forging hard steel. The products made by blacksmiths range from heavy equipment like anvils to tools like hammers, chisels, axes and sickles to chains, heavy rings and buckles used for dragon riding harnesses to household items like cutlery and cooking vessels of all sizes, some with non-stick coating for easier cleanup. A small knife is worth one mark on Pern.

Weaponsmiths specialize on crafting armor and weapons. Other metalsmiths specialize on fancier products working bronze, copper or brass. Silver- and goldsmiths create jewelry, often working together with the subspecialty of the Minecraft that provides and cuts gems, or might specialize as mechanics, for example by creating timepieces.

Back to Top

Hoofsmiths:

The hoofsmith or farrier specializes on making shoes for runnerbeasts and burdenbeasts. This branch of the Smithcraft works closely together with the Beastcraft and often has a separate workshop close to the stables. The hoofsmith needs a special anvil to make runner shoes, as well as a good grasp on working with large beasts. Many old hoofsmiths have gained an impressive knowledge in beasthealing over time since they are often the first to be called to treat the hooves of lame beasts. Most hoofsmiths also make and repair wagons and harnesses.

Back to Top

Stonesmith:

This branch of the Smithcraft works closely together with the masons from the Minecraft in constructing the buildings on Pern. They are the architects of Pern and need an excellent understanding of physics and materials to do the stress analyses of the stone and foundations and provide plans that guarantee that the finished building will stand solidly and not crumble in on itself. Some stonesmiths specialize on creating decorative stonework, others in mixing and working with hard-set, a concrete-like material.

Back to Top

Glasscraft:

The Glasscraft is an off-shot of the Smithcraft, producing not only glass and lead crystal but also ceramics and porcelain. Apprentices interested in this branch of the craft start out by grinding limestone, sifting sand and working the bellows at the forges used by the Journeymen doing the glassblowing. Most Masters have their special recipes for mixing the raw materials for glass melting which they guard jealously like the vintners guard their wine recipes. The glass products made by the Glasscraft range from flasks and bottles to windowpanes to more sophisticated items like lenses for distance-viewers (telescopes) and small-seers (microscopes), which are made by Masters specializing in optics.

Back to Top

Starcraft:

The Starcraft is a recent off-shot from the Glasscraft. With the help of the re-invented distance-viewers, Starcrafters create charts of the skies around Pern and have made astonishing discoveries, such as the fact that the so-called Dawn Sisters visible over Southern Pern are man-made objects. The Starcraft is also involved in intense study of the Red Star, trying to dissect its role in the recurrence of Threadfall on Pern and improving the charts predicting the time and location of Threadfall. The main products of the Starcraft are accurate Threadfall charts as well as detailed maps of the skies over Pern and equipment used in charting the skies, which have practical use for the Seacraft as navigation aids. Some Starcrafters also try to predict atmospheric conditions, with the help of gadgets that measure temperatures and atmospheric pressure, and provide weather charts.

Back to Top

Woodcraft:

The Woodcraft started out as an off-shot from the Smithcraft, shaping wood instead of metal. Due to its vulnerability to Thread, wood is a precious resource on Pern. In contrast to earth, the main building material used on Pern is stone, not wood. Therefore Pern's Woodcrafters are less involved in providing building material but rather in the creation of furniture, toys and jewelry. The Woodcraft has a variety of subspecialties. Carpenters specialize on building furniture; coopers specialize on making wagon wheels, vats and barrels. A hand-sized hardwood box with hinges is worth one mark on Pern.

Soap, made of lye and fat, is a luxury product of the Woodcraft. The lye needed for its production is made by running water through hardwood ash. Since hardwoods are a precious resource on Pern, burning a valuable supply of it to make soap was long considered absurd. Another recent re-invention of the Woodcraft is paper. However, wood resources are very scarce on the Western Continent, making soap and paper predominantly imported and thus valuable trading items.

Back to Top

Engineers and Mechanics:

The engineers and mechanics invent and manufacture machines and useful mechanical gadgets. They install and service steam-powered pumps for underground mines to assist in air exchange, as well as distance-writers to facilitate the fast exchange of news between Holds and Halls. Many mechanics are specializing on smaller items. Locksmiths provide hinges, door latches, locks and keys. Clock-smiths construct timepieces from simple hourglasses to water clocks, pendulum clocks and spring-powered clocks. Some are specializing in creating navigation tools such as marine compasses for the seacrafters.

Back to Top

Chemists:

During the Ninth Pass, the Smithcraft has discovered agenothree as a combination of Thread-bane and airborne fertilizer, as well as invented acid batteries and Leyden jars. Smiths who have a knack for chemistry also formulate stains, dyes, varnishes, and cleaning compounds. They usually are banned into their own building far removed from the rest of the Hold or Hall, since some of the compounds and side products they create produce toxic fumes or are explosive. They provide the black powder which is used in blasting sections of stone for the construction of Ithaca Weyr and Hold.

Back to Top

- contains a library of articles with many useful technical details for several branches of the Smithcraft

- contains a summary of subcrafts and an excerpt from the DLG about the Smithcraft